Lip exfoliation and gloss application

ABSTRACT

Human lip exfoliation is provided using a device to apply flowable exfoliant material to the user&#39;s lips, and then effecting powered vibration of a tip of the same device to gently exfoliate the user&#39;s lips. The device can include an exfoliator unit and a lip gloss unit, with a magnetic coupling between the units to hold them together until positively separated, yet movement of the lip gloss unit will not result in discharge of exfoliant. The exfoliator unit has a silicone applicator tip with a number of integral silicone bristles for contact with a user&#39;s lips. The tip is connected by a passage to a chamber containing exfoliant, and a check valve can be provided between the passage and chamber. Powered vibration of the applicator tip can be provided by an eccentric mass motor mounted immediately adjacent the tip

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 61/465,150 filed Mar. 16, 2011.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Many consumers feel the need to periodically exfoliate their lips,especially prior to applying lip gloss or other lip color or treatment.One prior art device is designed for entirely manually exfoliating thelips by applying a gentle exfoliant gel, and providing a stationarysilicone tip for gently—by manual movement—massaging the lips after theexfoliant is applied. This prior art device is made by the Chinesecompany COOG, and has a unit body that is molded with polypropyleneresin, an interior flat piston, and a screw dial. When the screw dial ismoved exfoliant gel is pushed to the silicone tip by the piston througha central passage. U.S. Pat. No. 7,785,026 relates to another prior artmanually operated exfoliator device that delivers flowable exfoliant toa user's lips.

For other body parts not as sensitive as the lips US patent publication2010/0217357 shows the general concept of using a vibrating device withan exfoliant, while U.S. Pat. No. 3,030,647 teaches the general conceptusing a vibrating device for cosmetic application. US patent publication2004/0096258 shows the general concept of applying lipstick with avibrating device.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,712,914, 7,465,114, 7,481,592, US patent publication2007/0289602, WO2011/009282, CN 201393678, and DE 202009007815 all showthe general concept of a vibrating motor located in a body for vibratingan applicator for applying some sort of cosmetic to a user,primarily—though not exclusively—for applying mascara externally placedon the applicator.

The invention combines the best features of the prior art devices setforth above while performing a number of additional tasks, and providingenhanced functionality, efficiency, and simplicity.

According to one aspect of the invention a device is provided whichincludes an exfoliator unit and a lip gloss unit, connected together bya magnetic coupling. The magnetic coupling effectively isolates the lipgloss unit from the adjustment dial for the exfoliating material pistonso that movement of the lip gloss unit will not result in discharge ofexfoliant.

The exfoliator unit preferably includes a silicone tip, having integralsilicone bristles, to which flowable exfoliating material may passthrough a check valve from a chamber containing the flowable material ina polycarbonate body. A battery powered motor is also located in thebody, adjacent the tip. When the motor is activated an eccentric massassociated with the motor causes the tip to vibrate. The vibratingaction of, combined with the flow of exfoliating material to, the tipgently exfoliates the user's lips when the tip is applied thereto.

After exfoliation, the manual lip gloss applicator at the bottom of thebody is detached and lip gloss may be manually applied to the user'slips.

The silicone tip bristles may have a length of between about 0.05-0.5cm, and a diameter or other largest cross-sectional dimension of betweenabout 0.05-0.3 cm; and the silicone of the bristles desirably has adurometer of between about 40-70 on the Shore A scale.

The powered vibration effecting device desirably comprises an eccentricmass motor mounted substantially immediately adjacent the silicone tip.Typically, the motor is mounted so that the axis of rotation thereof issubstantially parallel to the dimension of elongation of the tip. Themotor may be mounted in a substantially tubular plastic body containingexfoliant material and is in mounting contact with the body at threeapproximately equidistant positions around the circumference of themotor. A battery and circuitry for operatively connecting anddisconnecting the motor to and from the battery, may be provided, thebattery and circuitry mounted adjacent the motor in the body, and themotor, battery and circuitry separated from flowable material in thechamber.

The invention also relates to a method of effecting lip exfoliationusing a device to apply flowable exfoliant material to the user's lips,and then effecting powered vibration of a tip of the same device togently exfoliate the user's lips.

It is a primary object of the invention to facilitate the effectiveexfoliation of and/or gloss application to a human's lips. This andother objects of the invention are clear from the detailed descriptionof the invention and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary combined exfoliator and lip glossapplicator device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the unit of FIGS. 1 & 2 taken alonglines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the unit of FIGS.1-3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view, partly in cross-section and partly inelevation, of the tip end of the unit of FIGS. 1-4 showing the motormount, passageway for exfoliant, check valve, and silicone tip withbristles;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective detail view of the motor, battery andcircuitry located in the body of the device of FIGS. 1-5;

FIGS. 7 & 8 are detail cross-sectional views of the device at twodifferent locations [taken along lines 7-7 and 8-8, respectively, ofFIG. 5] showing mounting of the motor in the unit;

FIG. 9 is a detailed exploded perspective view of the magnetic couplingbetween the exfoliator and lip gloss applicator units of the device ofFIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 10 is a schematic isometric detail view showing the silicone tipwith integral bristles of the device of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the back of the interior cap of thedevice;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11 only showing a seal coverplaced to define an offset hole; and

FIG. 13 is a view like that of FIG. 10 of a preferred modified form ofthe integral bristles of a silicone tip of the device of FIGS. 1-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary combined exfoliator and lip gloss applicator deviceaccording to the invention is illustrated generally by reference numeral10 in FIGS. 1-4. It includes a lip gloss applicator unit 11 and anexfoliator unit 12.

The lip gloss applicator unit 11 comprises a main tubular body 13, whichpreferably is primarily made of a clear plastic and containsconventional liquid or semi-liquid lip gloss, and an applicatorcomponent 14. The component 14 includes a desirably opaque plastic screwcap 15 having conventional internal threads 16 (FIG. 3) which cooperateswith the conventional external threads 17 (FIGS. 3 & 4) on the proximateend of the body 13. As seen in FIGS. 3 & 4, a conventional doefootapplicator 18—or any other type of conventional applicator (such as abrush) for applying lip gloss to a human's lips—is integral with a wand19, in turn operatively connected to the screw cap 15 by conventionalmeans. A conventional wiper 20 is also preferably provided.

The unit 11 desirably has a smaller diameter extended portion 21 (seeFIGS. 3, 4, & 9) at the end thereof proximate the unit 12, nesting in atubular recess 22 in the end of unit 12 proximate the unit 11. Unit 11must be connected to the unit 12 in a manner such that they do not tooeasily separate (so as to avoid inadvertent detachment) but so thatsimple touching or rotational movement of the unit 11 does not result indischarge of exfoliant from the unit 12. This is desirably accomplished,according to the invention, by providing a magnetic coupling—showngenerally by reference numeral 24 in FIGS. 4 & 9. The magnetic coupling24 essentially results in a “floating” connection between the units 11and 12.

In the preferred embodiment—see FIG. 9—the magnetic coupling 24 includesa conventional permanent magnet 25 (which may be disc shaped, asillustrated) glued or otherwise operatively attached to the portion 21,for example in a recess in the section thereof closest to unit 12, and amagnetic material (e. g. iron, steel, cobalt, nickel, etc.) plate ordisc 26 glued or otherwise attached to the portion of unit 12 closest tounit 11. Alternatively the magnet 25 could be mounted in unit 12 and themagnetic material plate or disc 26 mounted in unit 11; or two or morepermanent magnets having their north and south poles facing toward eachother could be mounted in cooperating portions of units 11 and 12.

In the preferred embodiment, the exfoliator unit 12 comprises a tubularstrong and durable (e. g. polycarbonate) main plastic body 30 having arotatable adjustment dial 31 at the proximate (the unit 11) end thereof,and a exfoliating tip 32 at the distal end thereof. A conventional clearplastic tubular cap 33 is desirably provided to cover the tip 32 whennot in use, the open end of cap 33 having a conventional releasable snapor separable interference connection to the distal end of main body 30at the area indicated by reference numeral 34 in. FIGS. 1-3 & 5.

The exfoliating tip 32 is preferably made of silicone, known per se forexfoliating human lips. As used in the specification and claims, theterm “silicone” also encompasses other materials having basically thesame properties as silicone, including inertness, safety in contactinghuman skin, moldability, flexibility, and medium firmness. Unlike theprior art, however, the tip 32—as most clearly seen in FIGS. 5 and10-12—includes a plurality of thin silicone bristles 35 moldedintegrally therewith. This facilitates the exfoliating action of the tip32, especially when it is vibrated (as will be further described below).

As a preferable alternative to the relatively thin bristles 35 in FIG.10, the configuration of FIG. 13 may be utilized. The tip 132 of FIG. 13has relatively short and thick bristles 135, compared to the bristles 35in the FIG. 10 embodiment, and the exfoliant flows through the centeropening 139 in the tip 132. For example the bristles 135 may have alength of about 0.05-0.50 cm, preferably about 0.08 cm, and a diameteror other largest cross-sectional dimension (e. g. if oval or polygonalin cross-section) of about 0.05-0.3 cm, preferably about 0.1 cm. Thesilicone of the bristles 135 most desirably has a durometer of betweenabout 40-70 on the Shore A scale, preferably a durometer of about 60-65on the Shore A scale.

The body 30 has a hollow interior chamber 36 (FIGS. 3-5) which containsa flowable exfoliant material. Any conventional exfoliant, such as inU.S. Pat. No. 7,785,026 or the COOG device described above, may beutilized. One exemplary such exfoliant is a water based gel with a sandytype additive, for gently cleansing human lips.

The exfoliant material flows through an off-center passageway 37 (seeFIGS. 5 & 7) from the chamber 36 through a conventional check valve 38(see FIGS. 3-5) to a central passage 39 in the silicone tip 32. Thecheck valve 38 illustrated comprises a conventional ball 40 pressed byspring 41 into contact with a valve seat 42, but any type of suitableknown check valve may be utilized.

The manner in which exfoliant material is caused to flow through thecheck valve is primarily conventional. A piston 44 (FIGS. 3 & 4) withinchamber 36 has a liquid-tight seal with the surface of chamber 36 inbody 30 and is connected to the adjustment dial 31 by the conventionalthreaded-screw linkage 45. The screw linkage 45 only allows the piston44 to move toward the tip 32 during clockwise rotation C of the dial 31;however, the piston 44 cannot be moved away from tip 32 bycounter-clockwise rotation of dial 31.

Novel according to the invention is the provision of a mechanism whichselectively provides powered vibration of the tip 32 to facilitateexfoliation of a user's lips. While any conventional device may beutilized which provides powered vibration, the preferred embodimentaccording to the invention comprises a motor shown generally byreference numeral 50 in FIGS. 4-8. The motor 50 per se is anoff-the-shelf 1.5 v motor which rotates an eccentric mass about its axisof rotation (A-A or A in FIGS. 6 & 7, respectively) to providevibration. As most clearly seen in FIGS. 5 & 6 the eccentric mass motor50 is mounted within a compartment 51 molded into the body 30. A cutout52 in the body 30 communicating with compartment 51 is covered by amotor cap 53.

The motor cap 53 may be a silicone component over an actuator button.The motor 50 is cradled snugly in compartment 51 as close to the tip 32as feasible. Also in compartment 51, opposite the motor 50 from tip 32,is a conventional 1.5 v battery 54 and associated conventional circuitry55. The conventional circuitry 55 may be as simple as a mechanical orsolid-state switch and wires connecting the switch to the battery 54 andmotor 50, or it may comprise other or additional components. In anyevent when the motor cap 53 is depressed the circuitry 55 operativelyconnects the battery 54 to the motor 50, activating the motor 50.

In the preferred embodiment, the motor cap 53 is sonically welded to thebody 30, and must be continuously depressed in order for the motor 50 tooperate. When the user releases the motor cap 53, the motor 50immediately stops. However, the circuitry 55 could be designed so thatwhen the motor cap 53 is depressed once the motor 50 is activated, andwhen the motor cap 53 is depressed again, the circuitry 55 disconnectsthe battery 54 from the motor 50, turning it off.

For hygiene purposes, it is desired that the chamber 36 not berefillable by the user. That is one reason why the motor cap 53 issonically welded to the body 30. There is no ability to replace thebattery 54, so the unit 12 cannot be used for long periods of time. Thebattery 54 and motor 50 are of the type that can be safely land-filled.

In the preferred embodiment the motor 50 is mounted in compartment 51 sothat the orientation of the motor axis A-A is substantially parallel tothe dimension of elongation of the body 30 and the tip 32. Thisorientation, combined with the close proximity of the motor 50 to thetip 32, provides a medium vibration to the tip 32. If for some reasonthe strength of the vibrating action of the tip 32 is desirablyenhanced, then the motor 50 may be mounted in substantially the sameposition as in the drawings, only with the axis A-A of the motor 50substantially perpendicular to the dimension of elongation of the body30 instead of substantially parallel thereto.

The motor 50, battery 54, and circuitry 55 in compartment 51 areisolated from the exfoliant material in the chamber 36 by any suitableconventional mechanism, such as the seal cover 57 (FIGS. 4 & 12) whichcloses off the compartment 51.

The particular manner in which the motor 50 is mounted in the body 30 isunique, and facilitates optimum functionality. As seen in FIG. 7 motor50 makes contact at three points 59, 60, 61 along its circumferentialperiphery with wall portions of the body 30 in compartment 51. As see inFIG. 7, the points 59-61 are preferably spaced approximately equidistantfrom each other around the circumference of the motor 50, e. g. about120 degrees apart. In the embodiment illustrated, with the cutout 52 atthe top, the three points 59-61 of the compartment 51 wall areapproximately at the 10 o'clock, 2 o'clock, and 6 o'clock positions,respectively. The motor 50 is separated from the battery 54 andcircuitry 55 by interior compartment wall 62 substantially perpendicularto the axis of rotation A-A of the motor 50.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 3-5, an interior cap 64 is providedbetween the compartment 51 and the silicone tip 32, and in which ismounted a nozzle 65 which provides the valve seat 42 and defines the apathway before the central passage 39 in tip 32. As shown in FIG. 5 bythe arrows F, under the force of the piston 44 the exfoliant materialflows from the interior chamber 36 through the off-center passageway 37,through the check valve 38, into the central passage 39 in tip 32.Because passage 39 is relatively small, there is a minimal chance thatexfoliant will be wasted, the check valve 38 positively separating theexfoliant in chamber 36 from the ambient air.

FIG. 11 shows the back end (the end closest to motor 50) of the interiorcap 64 which has a center opening 67 and defines the end 68 of theoffset passageway 37. FIG. 12 shows the cap 64 with the seal cover 57affixed thereto, covering the center opening 67 so that exfoliantmaterial flow into the opening 67 is provided through the end 68 of thepassageway 37.

The device 10 may assembled by connecting all of the components exceptfor the interior cap 64 and those elements on the opposite side thereoffrom motor 50. As seen in FIG. 3, the piston 44 is initially at aposition most remote from the motor 50 so that the chamber 36 hasmaximum volume. The exfoliant material (e. g. gel) is then injected intothe chamber 36 through the passageway 37 until the chamber 36 issubstantially filled. Then the cap 64, tip 32, and associatedcomponents, are snapped into place on the body 30 using conventionalsnap-fitting body elements. Alternatively, the chamber 36 can be filledwith exfoliant material before the piston 44 is in place, and then thepiston properly located.

During use of device 10, the clear cap 33 is removed, the dial 31 isrotated clockwise [C in FIG. 4] moving the piston 44 to force someexfoliant gel from chamber 36 through passageway 37, around the motor50, through the check valve 38, into central passageway 39 of siliconetip 32. The gel is moved onto the user's lips using the silicone tip 32.Then the motor cap button 53 is depressed, causing the circuitry 55 toconnect the battery 54 to the motor 50.

When the motor 50 is energized, its eccentric mass is rotated about itsaxis of rotation A-A, causing it to vibrate. The vibration istransmitted through interior cap 64 to the silicone tip 32, 132. Thepowered vibration of the tip silicone bristles 35, 135 provides amechanical action which works with the exfoliant gel to gently exfoliatethe user's lips.

Once the user's lips have been exfoliated, the motor cap button 53 isreleased, turning off the motor 50. Then the user pulls the lip glossunit 11 away from the exfoliant unit 12, breaking the magnetic coupling24 therebetween. Then the screw cap 15 containing the doefoot applicator18 is unscrewed from the clear plastic tube 13, and the liquid lip glosson the doefoot applicator 18 is applied to the user's lips.

Because of the magnetic coupling 24, the units 11, 12 are held togetheruntil actual separation is desired by the user. Yet if the unit 11 isrotated or otherwise acted upon while connected to unit 12 it will notresult in rotation of the dial 31, so exfoliant will not beinadvertently moved out of the chamber 36.

There are many modifications possible according to the invention. Forexample interchangeable heads can be provided for the unit 12. That is,instead of the exfoliating silicone tip 32 some other head could beprovided, such as for applying mascara, lipstick, or some othercosmetic, analgesic, or medicinal material, or for more harshly removingmaterials on a user's skin.

Any and all specific ranges within any broad numerical range set forthabove are also specifically provided herein.

The claims are to be accorded the broadest interpretation possible,limited only by the prior art, so as to encompass all equivalentmechanisms and procedures.

1. A cosmetic device comprising an exfoliator unit and a lip gloss unit,and a magnetic coupling between the units so that the units will be heldtogether until positively separated, yet rotation or other movement ofthe lip gloss unit will not result in discharge of exfoliant by theexfoliator unit.
 2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein the lip glossunit comprises a clear tubular body, a screw cap, and a lip glossapplicator operatively connected to the screw cap.
 3. A device asrecited in claim 1 wherein the magnetic coupling comprises at least onepermanent magnet operatively connected to one of the units, and amagnetic material or at least one other permanent magnet operativelyconnected to the other of the units.
 4. A device as recited in claim 2wherein the lip gloss applicator comprises a doefoot applicator.
 5. Adevice as recited in claim 1 wherein the exfoliator unit comprises asilicone tip positioned to allow exfoliating contact with a user's lips.6. A device as recited in claim 5 wherein the silicone tip comprises aplurality of integral silicone bristles for contact with a user's lips,the bristles having a length of between about 0.05-0.5 cm, and adiameter or other largest cross-sectional dimension Of between about0.05-0.3 cm; and wherein the silicone of the bristles has a durometer ofbetween about 40-70 on the Shore A scale.
 7. A device as recited inclaim 6 further comprising a device which may effect powered vibrationof the silicone tip to facilitate gentle exfoliation of a user's lipstherewith.
 8. A device as recited in claim 7 wherein the poweredvibration effecting device comprises an eccentric mass motor mountedsubstantially immediately adjacent the silicone tip.
 9. A device asrecited in claim 8 wherein the silicone tip has a dimension ofelongation, and wherein the motor is mounted so that the axis ofrotation thereof is substantially parallel to the dimension ofelongation of the tip.
 10. A lip exfoliator unit comprising .a siliconetip positioned to allow exfoliating contact with a user's lips, andwherein the silicone tip comprises a plurality of integral siliconebristles for contact with a user's lips.
 11. A lip exfoliator unit asrecited in claim 10 wherein said bristles have a length of between about0.05-0.5 cm, and a diameter or other largest cross-sectional dimensionof between about 0.05-0.3 cm; and wherein the silicone of the bristleshas a durometer of between about 40-70 on the Shore A scale.
 12. A lipexfoliator unit as in claim 10 further comprising a device which mayeffect powered vibration of the silicone tip to facilitate gentleexfoliation of a user's lips therewith, said powered vibration effectingdevice comprises an eccentric mass motor mounted substantiallyimmediately adjacent the silicone tip.
 13. A unit as in claim 12 whereinthe silicone tip has a dimension of elongation, and wherein the motor ismounted so that the axis of rotation thereof is substantially parallelto the dimension of elongation of the tip; and wherein the motor ismounted in a substantially tubular plastic body containing exfoliantmaterial and is in mounting contact with the body at three approximatelyequidistant positions around the circumference of the motor.
 14. A lipexfoliator unit comprising a silicone tip positioned to allowexfoliating contact with a user's lips, and a device which may effectpowered vibration of the silicone tip to facilitate gentle exfoliationof a user's lips therewith.
 15. A unit as in claim 14 wherein thepowered vibration effecting device comprises an eccentric mass motormounted substantially immediately adjacent the silicone tip.
 16. A unitas in claim 15 wherein the silicone tip has a dimension of elongation,and wherein the motor is mounted so that the axis of rotation thereof issubstantially parallel to the dimension of elongation of the tip; andwherein the motor is mounted in a substantially tubular plastic bodycontaining exfoliant material and is in mounting contact with the bodyat three approximately equidistant positions around the circumference ofthe motor.
 17. A device for applying a flowable material to a user'sbody, comprising: a generally tubular body having a chamber therein forholding flowable material; an applicator tip at one end of the bodyhaving a passage in operative communication with the chamber and forapplying the flowable material to a user's body; a check valve betweenthe applicator tip passage and chamber; and a device which may effectpowered vibration of the applicator tip.
 18. A device as in claim 17wherein the powered vibration effecting device comprises an eccentricmass motor mounted substantially immediately adjacent the applicatortip; and further comprising a battery and circuitry for operativelyconnecting and disconnecting the motor to and from the battery, thebattery and circuitry mounted adjacent the motor in the body, and themotor, battery and circuitry separated from flowable material in thechamber.
 19. A device as in claim 18 wherein an off-center passagewayconnects the chamber to the applicator tip, passing around the poweredvibration effecting device.
 20. A method of effecting lip exfoliationusing the device as recited in claim 14 comprising applying flowableexfoliant material to the user's lips using the device, and theneffecting powered vibration of a tip of the same device to gentlyexfoliate the user's lips.